Hey guys. ive been a lurker since i joined Acurazine. so i read the parking brake thread every one says the brake switch is common. on my TLS i have one of the LEDS or 2 out on the 3rd brake light. do you guys think its the brake switch still or the LEDs it self?
also has any one actually replaced the individual LEDS or just replaced the module

Here is the picture ( excuse the bird poop its getting a wash tomorrow)

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=3rd+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

 

I had half of the led's out, changed the switch and they all worked again, very easy to do.

 

Thanks Thats what i wanted to go know. I've been when they are all out people just switched the brake switch and it worked but i didn't see any one post if only somewhere out. Going to go pick one up locally and see.

 

I wonder why that is????????
very curious...as in the past, when the brake light switch went out, all the brake lights went out...
and I would think LEDS are either on or off. no in-between???
why is the board only illuminating half of the LEDs?
just very curious.

 

 

i meant in past cars. with halogen bulbs...I wonder why the LED board is only illuminating half...
c'mon thoiboi, you're the fake EE here. just super curious on why the board only illuminates half...instead of an all or nothing kind of deal.

 

I only play one on the Internet


Probably has something to do with the LEDs being wired in parallel and the switch not providing full voltage to the LEDs.. Brake switches are typically momentary or fluid pressure switches as opposed to light switches which are latching.

 

i dont know what any of that means...but it sorta makes sense!!! thanks fake internet EE

 

I have had 3rd brake light issues twice since owning the car. First time was when I took it for inspection just after I purchased it, the first 2 segments weren't illuminating and the dealer replaced the light assembly. Fast forward 6-7 years, and I happened to be following my wife home and noticed that I really didn't see/notice the brake lights were working....they were just really dim. I told her to stop driving my car until I could look at it. All three brake lights were very dim, but all elements were working. A replacement switch resolved that and they are back to blinding bright once again.

 

I have wondered this as well and someone had posted the schematic of the circuit and it wasn't exactly obvious...other than maybe the voltage drop is too low to overcome the forward bias of the last leds on the circuit?? BTW, I am playing Internet EE today as well.

 

 

i replaced the switch and still the same light out.

i was looking to replace it also. wonder why it only worked a couple days for you.